This is a very exciting week in New Haven as more than 21,000 students prepare to come back to school for a new year of academic excellence. This year we begin valuable changes that will catapult New Haven to becoming the best urban school district in the nation. Change is coming and we want you to be part of it. To learn more about the school change campaign please visit: www.NewHavenSchoolChange.org

Several hundred students will be entering brand new school buildings for the first time this week:

Bishop Woods First Day of School

Students at Bishop Woods will settle in to their new building on Quinnipiac Avenue. This $38 million brand new school building is 75,000 square feet replaces the elementary school that was built on the site in 1970. The school, which is the 40th in the Citywide School Construction Program, is adjacent to a bird sanctuary and was designed to visually connect with the woods behind the school. The school houses grades Pre-K through 8th. Notable features: science lab; multi-purpose discovery room; library/media center; varied technology. To celebrate this brand new building, local dignitaries, students, parents, teachers will be present to cut the ribbon and watch the children enter their new school beginning at 8:35 a.m. on Wednesday.

Mauro Sheridan First Day of School

At 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday, students, teachers, administrators and parents will cut the ribbon at the front door on Fountain Street and enter this 39th school in the Mayor’s Citywide School Construction Program. This brand new school is a merger of the Vincent Mauro School and the Susan Sheridan School. This $47.5 million, 101,000 square foot school houses grades Pre-K through 8th. Notable features: applied technology lab, video/broadcast lab, science labs, parent resource center, and modern library/media center. An Astronaut will be on hand to lead students in to this NASA Explorer school (visit http://www.nhps.net/sheriden for more info). To celebrate this spectacular building, local dignitaries, students, parents, teachers and members of the Mauro family will be present to cut the ribbon to the new school.

Bus Safety

At 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, at the Ross Woodward School, Police Chief James Lewis will board a First Student school bus and give students a lesson on school bus safety and kick-off the back-to-school season with tips on how to make this academic year safer for all children. Student safety is a top priority for the school district and its partners at the New Haven Police Department.

First Day of Kindergarten at John C. Daniels School

Friday will be the first day of Kindergarten for the “future college grads: Class of 2026”. This day will focus on these future college grads and their parents as they begin the journey to that 2026 accomplishment. Children will enter their new classrooms with pennants from different colleges and will be led by teachers carrying pennants from their own Alma-Maters, instilling in each student the fact that they can and will go to college. This celebration will take place at the Daniels School at 8 a.m. on Friday.

Mayor’s Night In

On the first Tuesday of every month, I hold Mayor’s Night In at City Hall. This event is an opportunity for residents to meet with me to discuss you your questions, concerns, and suggestions for our City. I encourage residents to stop by Tuesday, September 1st at 5 p.m.

Police Department Promotional Ceremony

Join me on September 2nd at Nathan Hale School to celebrate captain, lieutenant, sergeant and detective promotions. The promotional ceremony will begin at 5 p.m.

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